Morality I

August 28, 2008

Before Class

• Read Chapters 23, 24, 31, 34 of U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults
• Read the following handouts:
  • Social Teaching of the Church
  • The Priesthood of the Faithful
  • Evangelization
• Read other handouts (optional)

Homework

• Read the Summary of the National Directory for Catechesis
• Read the following handouts:
  • Natural Law
  • Christian Meaning of Freedom
  • Light of Conscience
  • Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life
• Read other handouts (optional)

To Make Up an Absence

If you are unable to attend this class, please submit to the instructor at the next class written responses to a total of four questions from below (at least one from each section). Each response should be 2-3 paragraphs in length and address the question completely. Include the question (not just the number) at the top of your response.

Chapter 23. Life in Christ—Part One

1. The Catechism describes two opposite misunderstandings of human freedom that are common in our society: limiting "freedom" to mean the mere ability to make a choice, and denying that we are free at all. What is true human freedom, and how does it refute these two common misunderstandings? Give examples. How can we grow in true freedom?
2. Describe the three elements of a moral act and how they are used to evaluate whether an act is good or evil. Choose two examples of specific moral acts and evaluate them according these three elements. How does this teaching show that morality is not merely subjective and personal but also subjected to unchanging and objective moral truths? How are some acts always intrinsically evil?
3. What is mortal sin, and what is its effects? What is venial sin, and what is its effects? Describe how one evaluates whether a sin is mortal or venial and give at least two examples.
4. How do we form our conscience so that it reflects the true moral good? Why is this such a great responsibility? Why must we follow a certain conscience?
5. "In our permissive culture, love is sometimes so romanticized that it is separated from sacrifice... The absence of sacrificial love dooms the possibility of an authentic moral life" (p. 318). How has our society separated love from sacrifice? How has that affected our ability to make good moral choices?

Chapter 24. Life in Christ—Part Two

1. "An awareness of the social dimension of human life is an important principle in understanding Christian morality, especially in light of the great emphasis on individualism in our society" (p. 325). How is all sin both individual and social? How does our society's emphasis on individualism harm our ability to understand the social dimension of our moral acts?
2. "Society has the responsibility to create the conditions that favor the growth of virtues and of authentic spiritual and material values" (p. 326). In what ways does our society succeed with this responsibility? In what ways does it fail? How can we work to encourage the growth of virtues and values not supported currently supported in our society? Give examples.
3. What is natural law and its relationship to human dignity? What is the role of natural law in civil society, and why?
4. What is justification? How do we participate in our own justification? How does grace perfect human freedom?
5. What are actual graces, and how do they differ from sanctifying grace? Can you describe an example of an actual grace from your life? How do these illustrate our dependence on God? Choose two sacraments and describe the sacramental graces proper to them.

Chapter 31. The Seventh Commandment: Do Not Steal—Act Justly

1. How does the Seventh Commandment guide us to respect and care for property that is not our own, that belongs to others, or that is public property?
2. Choose three examples from among the major themes of the Church's social teaching (p. 421-424). How is each "rooted in the fundamental principle of the sacredness of human life and the fundamental dignity of every single individual" (p. 421)? Describe a current issue in our society for which this theme of the Church's social teaching is relevant, and how.
3. What is meant by the preferential option for the poor? Why does our faith require this? How does caring for the poor proclaim the Gospel?

Chapter 34. The Tenth Commandment: Embrace Poverty of Spirit

1. Why are greed and envy considered capital sins? What is poverty of spirit? How does the virtue of humility counter envy?
2. What is the Christian call to stewardship? Why does stewardship require detachment from material possessions, pleasures and worldly success?